High Environmental Costs Research Articles

The Economic Impact of Capital Expenditures: Environmental Regulatory Delay as a Source of Strategic Advantage?

This study investigates the impact of environmental regulatory delay on capital market reactions to capital expenditure announcements. Using the time to gain resource consent (regulatory) approval as an indicator of expected resource consent compliance costs, positive valuation effects are found from project announcements when the expected time to gain resource consent approval is long. The findings suggest that by undertaking voluntary capital expenditures with high environmental compliance costs, listed companies can create strategic advantages. For example, long consent times may improve firms’ opportunities to develop specialised capabilities such as early mover advantages, reputational benefits, or enhanced environmental management systems. Alternatively, high environmental compliance costs may inhibit actions by industry competitors and new entrants, resulting in greater expected project NPVs.

Current nitrogen management status and measures to improve the intensive wheat-maize system in China.

During the first 35 years of the Green Revolution, Chinese grain production doubled, greatly reducing food shortage, but at a high environmental cost. In 2005, China alone accounted for around 38% of the global N fertilizer consumption, but the average on-farm N recovery efficiency for the intensive wheat-maize system was only 16-18%. Current on-farm N use efficiency (NUE) is much lower than in research trials or on-farm in other parts of the world, which is attributed to the overuse of chemical N fertilizer, ignorance of the contribution of N from the environment and the soil, poor synchrony between crop N demand and N supply, failure to bring crop yield potential into full play, and an inability to effectively inhibit N losses. Based on such analyses, some measures to drastically improve NUE in China are suggested, such as managing various N sources to limit the total applied N, spatially and temporally matching rhizospheric N supply with N demand in high-yielding crops, reducing N losses, and simultaneously achieving high-yield and high NUE. Maximizing crop yields using a minimum of N inputs requires an integrated, interdisciplinary cooperation and major scientific and practical breakthroughs involving plant nutrition, soil science, agronomy, and breeding.

A model for cost–benefit analysis of construction and demolition waste management throughout the waste chain

Economic instrument is indubitably perceived as effective for encouraging or forcing contractors to conduct environmentally friendly construction practices. Previous studies in relation to this topic mainly put emphasis on economic analysis of construction and demolition (C&D) waste management from a static point of view, which failed to consider its dynamics nature by integrating all essential activities throughout the waste chain. This paper is thus intended to highlight the dynamics and interrelationships of C&D waste management practices and analyze the cost–benefit of this process using a system dynamics approach. Data related to concrete and aggregate of a construction project in Shenzhen was collected for the application of the proposed model. The findings reveal that net benefits from conducting C&D waste management will occur, but a higher landfill charge will lead to a higher net benefit, as well as an earlier realization of the net benefit. In addition, the general public under a higher landfill charge will suffer from a higher environmental cost caused by illegal dumping. The simulation results also suggest that current regulation in Shenzhen should be promoted to facilitate a dramatic increase in net benefit from the implementation of C&D waste management. This research is of value in facilitating better understanding on the dynamics of C&D waste management activities throughout the waste chain, as well as providing a tool for simulating the cost–benefit of C&D waste management practices over the project duration.

After the factory [post-industrial nations

Recent decades have seen the emergence in much of the developed world of so-called post-industrial nations. These are nations that are making the transition from having manufacturing-based economies to having service based economies, and this transition has brought some big economic and social problems. Economic problems include a big balance of payments deficit, and a major social problem is that, while a few people in a service-based economy can get very rich, many more people become poorer. One possible solution is a renewal of manufacturing in post-industrial nations. However, renewal cannot be achieved by trying to bring back on-shore the industrial manufacturing that has been off-shored. This is because the necessary industrial manufacturing expertise no longer exists back on-shore. Moreover, industrial manufacturing involves centralised production and long-distance transportation, both of which have high environmental costs that are now being regulated against. Accordingly, post-industrial nations need to innovate in their renewal of manufacturing. This can be achieved by combining manufacturing and services in new ways. One way is to establish design and production services that enable ordinary people to create their own goods. Another way is the production of goods that have microelectronic functionalities that enable ordinary people to create their own services.

JT-Value Assessment of Schemes to Protect against Accidents with High Human and Environmental Costs

J_T-Value Assessment of Schemes to Protect against Accidents with High Human and Environmental Costs

Minimal nitrogen and water use in horticulture: Effects on quality and content of selected nutrients

Horticultural production has primarily focused on increasing productivity through intensification of fertilizers and water, resulting in high environmental costs. Recent research indicates that high nitrogen applications can have significantly negative effects on produce quality as well as secondary plant metabolite and vitamin content within fruits and vegetables. Consumer awareness of both sustainable production practices and nutritional content within fruits and vegetables has risen dramatically in recent years, indicating that there is a likely market for produce grown with minimal nitrogen and water inputs. This review investigates the effects on produce quality of nitrogen and water applications in fruit and vegetable crops, with specific emphasis on the content of flavonoids, carotenoids, glucosinolates and ascorbic acid. The link between the nutritional quality of horticultural crops and the environmental and social sustainability of reducing nitrogen and water is considered and discussed.

Corporate Social Responsibility in the Tourism Industry: Some Lessons from the Spanish Experience

Tourism has been, and still is, a very profitable industry in Spain. But the Spanish model of tourism development, following a pattern set in the 1950s, is now in crisis. The crisis is apparent in the widespread overdevelopment of tourist resorts and residential facilities in coastal areas, generating high environmental, social and economic costs. In this paper, we describe the Spanish model of tourism, the results it has achieved, the reasons for its longevity and the obstacles facing any attempt to change it. Given the failure of individual, collective and political action to solve the problems of overdevelopment, we ask whether corporate social responsibility and its theoretical foundations and instruments offer a solution.

Microbial Engineering of Nanoheterostructures: Biological Synthesis of a Magnetically Recoverable Palladium Nanocatalyst

Precious metals supported on ferrimagnetic particles have a diverse range of uses in catalysis. However, fabrication using synthetic methods results in potentially high environmental and economic costs. Here we show a novel biotechnological route for the synthesis of a heterogeneous catalyst consisting of reactive palladium nanoparticles arrayed on a nanoscale biomagnetite support. The magnetic support was synthesized at ambient temperature by the Fe(III)-reducing bacterium, Geobacter sulfurreducens , and facilitated ease of recovery of the catalyst with superior performance due to reduced agglomeration (versus conventional colloidal Pd nanoparticles). Surface arrays of palladium nanoparticles were deposited on the nanomagnetite using a simple one-step method without the need to modify the biomineral surface, most likely due to an organic coating priming the surface for Pd adsorption, which was produced by the bacterial culture during the formation of the nanoparticles. A combination of EXAFS and XPS showed the Pd nanoparticles on the magnetite to be predominantly metallic in nature. The Pd(0)-biomagnetite was tested for catalytic activity in the Heck reaction coupling iodobenzene to ethyl acrylate or styrene. Rates of reaction were equal to or superior to those obtained with an equimolar amount of a commercial colloidal palladium catalyst, and near complete conversion to ethyl cinnamate or stilbene was achieved within 90 and 180 min, respectively.

Coastal and marine environmental issues in the Pearl River Delta region, China

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) region has become the most prosperous region in China. Unfortunately, this rapidly growing economy has incurred high environmental cost. Our paper explores land‐based pollution input increases, eutrophication, mangrove deforestation, oceanic fisheries depletion, marine biodiversity loss and more frequent occurrences of red tides. Long periods of monitoring data on benthic organisms have confirmed environmental deterioration in Shenzhen Bay. A system of government perceived to be inappropriate, the inefficient functioning of marine institutions and the public’s low awareness of environmental sensitivity are together responsible for the current environmental degradation. This paper proposes reconciling the goals of economic development and environmental protection to evaluate the government’s performance, setting up a comprehensive agency in the PRD, increasing investment in ecological improvement, and making a more concerted effort to stimulate public awareness on environmental deterioration.

Towards Overcoming the Conflict Between Environmental Tax Leakage and Border Tax Adjustment Concessions for Developing Countries

Border tax adjustments (BTAs) may be able to alleviate concerns of reduced competitiveness for countries introducing environmental taxes and standards, while limiting the risk of companies relocating to developing countries to exploit lax environmental regimes - known as leakage. However, the ability of industrialized nations to offer developing countries special trade privileges for developmental purposes, including border tariff exemptions on exported goods, provides what is referred to in this article as a “leakage loophole.” This allows relocating companies to produce goods in developing countries at high environmental cost and sell them in the industrialized country they relocated from with no adjustment at the border at a potentially lower cost than domestically-produced goods which have internalized their negative environmental externalities.This article considers tax methods that counter the ability of such trade privileges benefiting those wishing to relocate and exploit them as to prevent leakage and ensure any concessions are only available for whom they are intended. In light of current academic debate, this article uses the “best available technology” standard to exemplify the potential grounds for adjustment exemption. Further, it considers the uses of BTAs for any legitimate environmental goal, not simply for carbon emissions.

China's pattern of trade and growth after WTO accession

PurposeWorld Trade Organization (WTO) accession marked a new beginning for China's economic, legal and institutional reforms and rapid integration with the rest of the world. The purpose of this paper is to review China's post‐WTO transition experience, synthesize and update studies on China's pattern of trade and structural transformation, and provide both positive and negative lessons for other developing countries.Design/methodology/approachThe paper has broadly reviewed the latest policy changes after China's WTO accession, and literatures on China's trade and economic development issues in order to understand the Chinese success and its speciality, and draw some useful lessons for both China's decision‐makers and other developing countries.FindingsThere are two main findings: first, market liberalization alone is not sufficient, and economic system reform and the liberalization are closely related and complement and promote each other. Second, experimentations via special economic zones (SEZs) and opening to foreign direct investment (FDI), which facilitated and supported cluster development and learning‐by‐doing, are needed for industrial upgrading and export competitiveness.Originality/valueThe paper demonstrates the wisdom of China's simultaneous pursuit of domestic economic system reform, and opening to the international market. However, China has also paid a high social and environmental cost for its rapid growth. It is important for developing countries to have an exclusive, balanced and sustainable strategy in the future development.

Sustainable intensive livestock production demands manure and exhaust air treatment technologies

Intensive livestock production is connected with a number of environmental effects, including discharges to soils and surface waters and emissions to the atmosphere. In areas with a high livestock density the low availability of nearby arable land, together with the preferred use of chemical fertilizer by arable farmers, results in high off-farm disposal costs for manure. Furthermore, ammonia abatement technologies, such as treatment of exhaust air, are important as ammonia emissions may account up to a quarter of the total nitrogen flux. Firstly, the paper describes and discusses the development of manure treatment in the Netherlands since the 1970’s. Manure treatment processes that result in products that compete with and replace the use of chemical fertilizers can (partly) close the nutrient cycle again. From this point of view aerobic treatment of manure (nitrification/denitrification) can not be considered sustainable as nitrogen is taken out of the cycle at high environmental costs. Secondly, the state-of-the-art of techniques for treatment of exhaust air is presented. Besides ammonia, application of air treatment may also reduce environmental emissions of odour and particulate matter (dust). Both manure treatment and treatment of exhaust air are considered essential for sustainable livestock operations in areas with a high livestock density.

Quantifying effects of simple wheat traits on yield in water-limited environments using a modelling approach

Availability of water for plant growth is a key factor determining plant distribution in natural ecosystems and is the most important limiting factor in agricultural systems. The high environmental and economical cost of irrigation, required to maintain grain yields in water scarce environments, gives an incentive for improvements in water use efficiency of the crop. The objective of our study is to quantify the effects of changes in simple component plant traits on wheat yield under limited water supplies using a modelling approach. The Sirius wheat simulation model was used to perform analyses at two contrasting European sites, Rothamsted, UK and Seville, Spain, which represent major wheat growing areas in these countries. Several physiological traits were analysed to explore their effects on yield, including drought avoidance traits such as those controlling wheat development (phyllochron and grain filling duration), canopy expansion (maximum surface area of culm leaves) and water uptake (root vertical expansion rate and efficiency of water extraction) and drought tolerance traits such as responses of biomass accumulation and leaf senescence to water stress. Changes in parameters that control the effect of water stress on leaf senescence and biomass accumulation had the largest impact on grain yield under drought. The modified cultivar produced up to 70% more yield compared with the control for very dry years. Changes in phenology parameters, phyllochron and grain filling duration, did not improve yields at either site, suggesting that these parameters have been already optimised for climates in the UK and Spain through the breeding process. Our analysis illustrates the power of modelling in exploring and understanding complex traits in wheat. This may facilitate genetic research by focusing on experimental studies of component traits with the highest potential to influence crop performance.

Exponential Growth, Animal Welfare, Environmental and Food Safety Impact: The Case of China’s Livestock Production

Developmental states are criticized for rapid “industrialization without enlightenment.” In the last 30 years, China’s breathtaking growth has been achieved at a high environmental and food safety cost. This article, utilizing a recent survey of China’s livestock industry, illustrates the initiating role of China’s developmental state in the exponential expansion of the country’s livestock production. The enthusiastic response of the livestock industry to the many state policy incentives has made China the world’s biggest animal farming nation. Shortage of meat and dairy supply is history. Yet, the Chinese government is facing new challenges of no less a threat to political stability. Production intensification has created a welfare crisis impacting the world’s biggest number of farm animals. The resulting food safety incidents are affecting consumer confidence and health. Untreated waste contributes to the nation’s environmental degradation. Developmental states may have a proud record of growth in the initial stage of industrialization. Their prospects for sustained development have long been questioned. China has come to an important juncture to march towards a sustained development.

Stated public preferences for on‐land and offshore wind power generation—a review

AbstractWith the increasing number of on‐land turbines and the increasing size of the individual turbines, on‐land locations for wind power development have become more difficult to find in an increasing number of countries. In the literature and the public debate, these on‐land siting difficulties are often put forward to be related to the perceived environmental costs of wind turbines. However, offshore wind power generation might be a solution to this problem, if the perceived environmental costs are smaller offshore compared with on‐land. Based on a review of seven papers focusing on the preferences and willingness to pay for different wind power development sites, people in different countries generally seem to hold significant preferences of offshore wind power development when compared with different types of locations on‐land. However, the preferences for offshore wind power development seem to be dependent on the specific place of location offshore. This points towards the fact that offshore locations potentially can have higher environmental costs than on‐land locations. However, the preferences for offshore locations strongly indicate that the environmental costs can be significantly reduced by the location of offshore wind farms at large distances from the coast. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Design and Characterization of Solar-Assisted Heating Plant in Domestic Houses

This paper deals with the development and characterization of an innovative domestic heating system that is driven by a solar-assisted heat pump to increase system efficiency. A suitable online measurement system of overall observable quantities has been integrated in the plant to give accurate and updated measurements of all the variables that are of interest to the whole system. A more detailed analysis of the quantities that mainly influence system performance has been carried out, and a suitable mathematical model that is able to describe and control the behavior of the interesting phenomena has been developed. The amount of heating energy depends on the local weather conditions. In the thermal plant proposed here, there is a solar energy harvesting device; this kind of plant needs a highly sensitive control system because of the great sensitivity of solar-powered systems to climatic variations. The use of the proposed system allows monitoring and controlling of the heating conditions of domestic houses without high environmental impact and energy costs.

Eco-labelling of wild-caught seafood products

Several eco-labels for wild-caught seafood have been developed during the last decade. This article describes and analyses the criteria applied by four different eco-labelling schemes for seafood products from capture fisheries, and discusses the criteria in terms of environmental impacts, based on the ISO 14040 standard for life cycle assessment. It is concluded that the most widespread eco-label, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), mainly addresses the fishing stage, in particular the overexploitation of marine resources. LCA studies confirm that the fishing stage represents the most significant environmental burden, but energy consumption and emissions of anti-fouling agents at the fishing or harvesting stage contribute with significant impacts that are not being addressed by international labelling initiatives for wild-caught seafood. LCA studies show that significant environmental impacts are related to the life cycle stages after landing. This includes fish processing, transport, cooling and packaging (especially for highly processed seafood products). Hence, another challenge would be to include criteria related to the post-landing consumption of energy, certain materials and chemicals, waste handling and wastewater emissions. Minimizing product losses throughout the product chain would also be an important area for future criteria in order to avoid fishing at high environmental costs only to produce something that is later wasted. The analysis shows that the Swedish KRAV is the only one that currently addresses a range of issues that include energy and chemicals in the whole life cycle of the products. International initiatives such as MSC cover fish products from many parts of the world emphasizing ‘overexploitation of fish resources’. It is recommended, however, that international initiatives such as MSC develop criteria related to energy use and chemicals – at least at the fishing stage. Over time, other life cycle stages could be addressed as well to the extent that this is manageable.

Alternative pricing regimes in interurban passenger transport with externalities and modal competition

We develop an interurban passenger transport model with modal competition, where modes are perceived as differentiated products, and capture all major externalities. Our objective is to establish whether alternative regulatory regimes, which may involve road tolls, may lead to a traffic allocation, user welfare, and total welfare that may be closer to the social optimum. An empirical application to interurban Spanish travel is undertaken. We find that the private regime yields the lowest total welfare level: 12.6% below the social optimum level. Optimum pricing requires a toll on car transport of 5.1 cents of per passenger-km, and a price decrease of all other modes, relative to the current regime. Finally, the social optimum without toll regime attains the welfare level closest to the social optimum, though it implies a reallocation of welfare from firms to users and higher environmental costs.

Ceramic wastes as alternative raw materials for Portland cement clinker production

Abstract The cement industry has for some time been seeking procedures that would effectively reduce the high energy and environmental costs of cement manufacture. One such procedure is the use of alternative materials as partial replacements for fuel, raw materials or even clinker. The present study explores the reactivity and burnability of cement raw mixes containing fired red or white ceramic wall tile wastes and combinations of the two as alternative raw materials. The results showed that the new raw mixes containing this kind of waste to be technically viable, and to have higher reactivity and burnability than a conventional mix, providing that the particle size of the waste used is lower than 90 μm. The mineralogical composition and distribution in the experimental clinker prepared were comparable to the properties of the clinker manufactured with conventional raw materials. Due to the presence of oxides such as ZnO, ZrO 2 and B 2 O 3 in tile glazing, the content of these oxides was higher in clinker made with such waste. The mix of red and white ceramic wall tile waste was found to perform equally or better than each type of waste separately, a promising indication that separation of the two would be unnecessary for the purpose described above.

A thermodynamic, environmental and material flow analysis of the Italian highway and railway transport systems

The goal of this work is to provide a multi-method multi-scale comparative picture of selected terrestrial transport modalities. This is achieved by investigating the Italian transportation system by means of four different evaluation methods: material flow accounting (MFA), embodied energy analysis (EEA), exergy analysis (EXA) and emergy synthesis (ES). The case study is the main Italian transportation infrastructure, composed by highways, railways, and high-speed railways (high-speed trains, HST) sub-systems supporting both passengers and freight transport. All the analyses have been performed based on a common database of material, labor, energy and fuel input flows used in the construction, maintenance and yearly use of roads, railways and vehicles. Specific matter and energy intensities of both passenger and freight transportation services were calculated factors affecting results as well as strength and weakness points of each transportation modality were also stressed. Results pointed out that the most important factors in determining the acceptability of a transportation system are not only the specific fuel consumption and the energy and material costs of vehicles, as it is common belief, but also the energy and material costs for infrastructure construction as well as its intensity of use (with special focus on load factor of vehicles). The latter become the dominant factors in HST modality, due to technological and safety reasons that require high energy-cost materials and low intensity of traffic. This translates into very high thermodynamic and environmental costs for passenger and freight transported, among which an embodied energy demand up to 1.44 MJ/p-km and 3.09 MJ/t-km, respectively. r 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.